The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

The Unified Planning Work Program

The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) sets out the transportation planning activities and products to be developed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization and other transportation planning agencies for the current and next fiscal year.

MPO planning functions are paid for in large part through federal grants for transportation planning. The activities, products and budgeted funds are documented in the UPWP, which is updated bi-annually by the MPO.

Each year, the federal and state governments identify “Planning Emphasis Areas” to be addressed in UPWP planning activities. This guidance supplements the legislation and rules that govern MPO activities, which include mandates for public involvement, congestion management, twenty-year plans, three-year improvement programs, streamlined environmental analyses, regional coordination within urbanized areas, and planning factors such as economic vitality, safety and security, and others.